Cañon del Colca

I went with Jessica to the Cañon del Colca and made it to Choco a very long day away. We got slightly lost on the very start but got help and found another way to get there. This way, we met with locals and chated along the way. We did choose to use the road rather than the trail for two reasons... First, the road would take us there for sure, and we wouldn´t lose it!!! Turns out, it´s a lot less scary!!! We walked to a bridge, and the fun began... The book suggested to continue on to the next camp site, on a Pampa (relatively large flat area), 1.5 hours away. So we did, and put on a total of 10 hours on that day! But that 1.5 hours was SUPER SCARY! The trail wasn´t 1m wide by sections... actually, most of it! I didn´t like that. Well, we had to make it before sundown... because that would have been a lot scarier!

We made it and had a really good rest. I was soooo glad to see the Pampa. Men... it sucks to love hicking sooo much but be afraid of heights like that. We had sandwiches for dinner and left at 8 am for Choco, two hours away. Without a guide, we knew we wouldn´t go on.. So we inquired when we got there and were told someone might be able to help us at 2pm. Then, a girl named Marie Sol came to talk to us and we chatted for a while. We offered her to eat with us because we were about to make oatmeal... She accepted the invitation and brought fresh fruit from her parents "garden". We went to her place to get everything ready because it was way too hot out there and our shady spot was disappearing. While we were there, her dad came over and we offered to make some for him too. His name was Gabriel. We ate, washed it the river (half dressed since there were other people not too far) and chatted some more with Marie Sol and her dad.

That´s when we found out that the snow on and across the pass Cerani, where we had to go through, was too deep to allow for passage. So it would be pointless to talk to the guide... we would have to go back. We were a little surprised, but somewhat knew we wouldn´t necessarily be able to finish the treck; and the trail had been so satisfactory so far, we didn´t mind. So we came back an hour later, and walked the 3.5 hours to the bridge. We put the tent up and it started raining immediatly after the tent was up. By the way, it was the first time in 3 years that I actually put the tent up the right way... the cover wasn´t touching the tent at any point... I feel a bit stupid but I am glad I finally figured it out because it rained a lot that night!
We undid camp early and made breakfast.. warmed left over soup!!! and Chocolatine (on that account, we very much figured out what would work if we ever tried again to melt chocolate on bread, but we ate warm bread and hard chocolate chuncks!!!)

We did dishes across the bridge, about 45 min from where the truck (our easy way back to town) would pick us up in a couple hours... Just as we started to relax in the raising sun, a group of people arrived from Choco. (3.5 hours away!!!) They had burros to carry their bags, so I feel a little bit better about taking longer then them!!! We got our stuff ready and caught up to them and waited a while for the truck to arrive.

We got to Cabanaconde early enough to get something to eat before the bus back. The bus didn´t take us where we wanted (didn´t have two seats free) but to Chivay. We found our worst hotel so far and walked around a bit. Jade, there are sooooo many hungry dogs here... it breaks my heart. Plus feeding them today won´t do anything for them tomorrow. I guess there are a lot of hungry kids too... how do I know. So we gave our yogurt(it´s not like milk, so I assumed he would be ok, Kaya eats some...) to this beautifull but scared dog... I wanted to adopt him.

We had a bad sleep and Jessica suggested to go for a walk at 5:30am! We did and I really enjoyed the business of the early morning. The market is outside for the most part and we bougt so much food for 2-3 $ We even tried some kind of apple juice with Quinoa... a warm breakfast for $O.15 environ. Wow! I would eat that everyday if it was an option. We also got tempted to get a puncho and a hoody for Jess and I. It was a bit over our really low budget to date, but defenitly worth it. I might buy a puncho too before I go back... I just don´t want to carry it!

We took the bus taking us back to Arequipa this morning and found a cheap room in a good hotel. We leave tomorrow for Puno, right by the lake Titicaca. I am quite excited to go. At the moment, our laundry is being done for us... it´s a luxury, but it´s going to be clean and dry before the next step on our journey. I want to go to the flotting islands on the lake, a German guy we met in the bus from Nazca said it was really impressive. We can maybe stay overnight with a family there, but they talk Quechua!!! No, I don´t know that one!

As you can see, all is going great except for the season for trekking. Now seems to be the absolute NO for most trails. We´ll see if we can do a couple anyways. Isla del sol would be our next walk, if they will let us visit it (too much wind for the crossing, I think).

Bolivia is just around the corner too, it´s gonna be fun to change people and currency and all the like.

We´ll keep you updated, but the pictures will only come when we can figure out a way to make them work here!!!